tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post112123920075060034..comments2018-12-26T21:10:29.727-08:00Comments on Agoraphilia: L&S: In Case You Were Wondering...Glen Whitmannoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121385640993322822005-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:002005-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:00"...homosexual practices do in fact carry greater ..."...homosexual practices do in fact carry greater health risks."<BR/><BR/>I think you mean male homosexual practices. Lesbians have a very low rate of STDs from what I've been told. Have to set you 'straight'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121382385951213172005-07-14T16:06:00.000-07:002005-07-14T16:06:00.000-07:00I might have been more clear. My point was that wh...I might have been more clear. My point was that whether you call it a risk (HIV/AIDS) or a consequence (pregnancy), if you're going to "copy the rhetorical templates" from the smoking and obesity issues, the health cares costs associated with homosexual practices have to be compared to the healthcare costs associated with heterosexual practices. While homosexual practices may "carry greater health risks," they do not necessarily -- at least not self-evidently -- impose greater public healthcare costs than heterosexual practices.<BR/><BR/>Your point that hospitalization costs do not reflect the cost of treating AIDS is well-taken. The most recent figures I can find indicate that hospitalizations accounted for 31% of Medicaid expenditures in 2000, while prescription drugs account for 11.9% of Medicaid Expenditures.<BR/><BR/>Also, according to the <BR/><A HREF="http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/WomenMedicaidUpdateMay2005.pdf" REL="nofollow">National Womens Law Center</A>, 71% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries are women, and Medicaid covers nearly 40% of all childbirths in the U.S.John Noblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121282260911779192005-07-13T12:17:00.000-07:002005-07-13T12:17:00.000-07:00John -- I assume your numbers are correct. But th...John -- I assume your numbers are correct. But the issue is not the magnitude of STD costs, but whether sexual behavior affects the size of such costs, and the answer is clearly yes. Also, looking solely at hospital stays is a strange way to measure health costs generally; for HIV infection, the primary cost is prescription drugs.Glen Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01425907466575991113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121279338511209192005-07-13T11:28:00.000-07:002005-07-13T11:28:00.000-07:00According to the Agency for Healthcare Research an...According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:<BR/><BR/>Pregnancies and childbirth-related conditions account for nearly a quarter of hospitalizations. Twelve percent of hospital stays are related to pregnancy and childbirth (the mother’s stay) and 11 percent are related to newborn infant births.<BR/><BR/>Nos. 1, 2 and 5 on the list of the top 10 "principal diagnoses with the highest mean charges" are related to newborn infants. No STD's in the top 10.<BR/><BR/>Nos. 1 and 2 on the list of the top 10 "principal diagnoses with the longest mean length of stay" in the hospital are related to newborn infants. No STDs in the top 10.<BR/><BR/>6 of the top 10 principal diagnoses that are paid for by Medicaid are pregnancy and childbirth related. No STDs on the list.<BR/><BR/>http://www.ahrq.gov/data/hcup/factbk6/factbk6.pdfJohn Noblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121267681913262222005-07-13T08:14:00.000-07:002005-07-13T08:14:00.000-07:00the nebulous "public health" also impacts immigrat...the nebulous "public health" also impacts immigration policy. anyone with a disease of "public health significance" - <A HREF="http://www.immigrationequality.org/template.php?pageid=176" REL="nofollow">such as HIV or AIDS</A> - cannot become a citizen, and needs special permission to just visit the country.nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672440753502149787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1121249501755761832005-07-13T03:11:00.000-07:002005-07-13T03:11:00.000-07:00In that case, I guess homosexual smokers should be...In that case, I guess homosexual smokers should be sent to Elba. They might enjoy each others company if it doesn't get too smoky in the island confines. <BR/><BR/>Your points are all well-taken and perceptive except that the health care costs of smoking must dwarf all the other health issues you mentioned. Also, I wouldn't get carried away with the idea of risky "homosexual practices." I think Magic Johnson can speak to that, not too mention some of my slutty old girlfriends. Safe sex, e.g. using condoms is essential.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com